Don't Make Grandma Worry About You from Heaven

When he had first crossed over, all he could think about was how to activate the Ten-Tails, how to grow stronger, and how to survive in this dangerous world.

Becoming the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki had been the most important step in his plan. He had even thought that it would have been nice if Grandma Mito had passed the Nine-Tails on to him sooner.

But now, those thoughts had long since been worn away by three years of ordinary life.

Whenever he practiced Sealing Jutsu until late at night, Grandma Mito would bring him a cup of hot tea and tell him, "Little Mirai, don't push yourself too hard. Your health comes first."

Whenever he and Kushina bickered, she would sit nearby and smile, then secretly put an extra piece of meat into Kushina's bowl.

On rainy afternoons, she would call him beneath the covered corridor and teach him how to identify the obscure runes on those ancient scrolls, her voice as gentle as a spring breeze.

Those scenes flashed through his mind one frame at a time before finally freezing on the image of Grandma Mito standing at the door and watching them leave that morning.

Back then, he had smiled and said, "Grandma, we're leaving," and Mito had smiled and waved back.

That smile had looked exactly the same as always, but looking back now, there had been a farewell in it that he had failed to notice.

At the time, he had only thought it ordinary.

"...I want to go see Grandma Mito."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. "You should. Go."

After leaving the Hokage's Office, Mirai walked far faster than usual.

Yet the words kept echoing through his head—"Handle it before the end of the month."

When the gates of the Senju Clan Compound came into view, he slowed instead.

He pushed open the courtyard gate. The main house was quiet, devoid of its usual liveliness.

Nawaki had probably been sent away, and Kushina was still at school. The only sound in the courtyard was the rustling of leaves in the wind.

Tsunade sat beneath the covered corridor, leaning against a pillar, her gaze loosely fixed on an old tree in the yard. Who knew what she was thinking about.

Mito sat in a chair inside the main house, a thin blanket draped over her legs.

She really had grown much thinner.

Though she had already been old three years ago, her cheeks had still held some fullness. Now, her cheekbones protruded, and her wrists were so thin that the shape of her bones could be seen.

There were far more age spots on her skin than before. Curled up in that chair, she looked like a lamp about to burn out.

But the instant she saw Mirai walk in, her eyes still lit up.

"Little Mirai, you're back?" She smiled and beckoned to him. "School ended early today?"

"Grandma, afternoon class was boring, so I skipped it." Mirai walked over and sat on a low stool beside her, his tone as casual as usual.

"You brat, no matter how boring school is, you can't skip class! You're still young. You mustn't become arrogant and complacent!"

"It's fine, Grandma. Don't worry. I'll make up the lessons."

"That's good. Come, Little Mirai, try this. Grandma made tempura."

Mirai Uzumaki accepted the tempura the old woman handed him and put it into his mouth.

He could not taste it at all, but he still smiled. "Delicious! Thanks, Grandma."

"Good boy. As long as you like it..."

Tsunade stood to the side, staring at them in a daze.

Mirai stayed with Mito and chatted for a long time, speaking only of trivial everyday matters—

What interesting things had happened at school today, how Kushina had overslept again that morning, which ramen shop in the village had come out with a new flavor recently.

Mito listened attentively, smiling now and then and occasionally adding a few words.

Tsunade came over and sat down as well. The three of them chatted on and off, just as they had on countless ordinary afternoons.

But Mirai's eyes never left Mito's face.

He saw the deathly stillness in those once gentle, bright eyes growing stronger by the day. He saw her occasionally pause while speaking, as though she needed to gather a breath before she could continue.

But he said nothing.

So this was what it felt like to lose family.

At first, he had thought it would be a violent storm, ending after an intense burst of pain.

But in truth, it was an endless, silent drizzle, cold and damp, making one shiver with dread while leaving no way to escape!

It was not until the afternoon that Kushina returned.

Mirai did not hide it from her.

In the courtyard, he took Kushina's hand and briefly told her what the Hokage had said.

Kushina stood frozen for a long while.

Then she let go of Mirai's hand, rushed into the main house, and threw herself before Mito's knees. Her tears immediately streamed down her face.

"Grandma... please don't leave..."

Mito froze for a moment, then let out a soft sigh. She reached out and stroked Kushina's long red hair, her voice as gentle as a spring breeze.

"Silly child, when Grandma leaves, the Nine-Tails will stay behind to keep you company."

"I don't want the Nine-Tails! I want Grandma!"

Mito smiled but said nothing more.

She simply patted Kushina's back, again and again, as if soothing a baby still learning how to walk.

Mirai stood outside the door, leaning against the frame as he watched the scene, his fists clenched tightly.

His nails dug into his palms, and the pain barely allowed him to maintain the calm expression on his face.

The end of the month finally came.

Deep in Konoha's back mountains, countless layers of barriers had been arranged.

The place was surrounded by mountains and some distance from the village. Even if the Nine-Tails went out of control, casualties could be minimized, which was why it had been chosen as the site for transferring its seal.

The ground was covered in complex Sealing Jutsu formulas, while the talisman pillars at the four corners were wrapped in dense layers of inscriptions.

A large number of ninja proficient in Sealing Jutsu were also stationed there to ensure that nothing went wrong.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood at the edge of the barrier, his expression grave.

Anbu members were positioned atop the surrounding high ground, each maintaining a vigilant stance.

The Barrier Team guarded their respective nodes, their hands held in seals as chakra slowly flowed into the formulas on the ground.

Everything was ready.

Tsunade supported Mito as she walked in.

She wore a white kimono, one she had loved most in her youth.

Meanwhile, Mirai Uzumaki lay at the center of the barrier, waiting to take on the burden Grandma Mito had carried!

"Mirai." Mito walked before him and looked up at him. He had grown much taller over the past three years. "Are you afraid?"

"...A little."

Mito smiled and reached out to ruffle his hair. "The Nine-Tails is a natural disaster, an omen of misfortune. It is indeed something to fear!

"But it is also a living being. It has feelings. If you get the chance in the future, try to communicate with it more. It would be even better if you could form a bond with it."

"Grandma made a mistake at the beginning. I thought that using power to suppress the Nine-Tails was enough, but that was actually the greatest waste of the Nine-Tails' power."

Mito Uzumaki seemed to want to say more, but then she smiled again. "Forget it. Telling you this now seems rather pointless."

"Remember Grandma's words. Communicate with the Nine-Tails as much as you can!"

"Okay!" Mirai Uzumaki nodded firmly.

Her hand rested atop his head, warm yet withered.

"One last thing. Promise Grandma something," she said softly. "Live well! Keep the Nine-Tails under control, keep Kushina under control, and keep yourself under control too.

"Remember to eat on time and attend class on time. Even after becoming a ninja, you must not be careless. When facing danger, you must stay calm and steady.

"You must protect yourself, and protect Kushina too. Don't make Grandma worry about you from heaven..."

Mirai's eyes suddenly burned.

He gritted his teeth and nodded hard.